The Ten Commandments of Leadership

Commandment I - Surround yourself with high quality employees
No matter how good or successful you are or how clever or crafty, your business and its future are in the hands of the people you hire.  Akio Morita, Co-founder and former CEO of Sony.

Commandment II - Train employees well
Because we entrust the Starbucks brand to the hands of the baristas (employees), it's vitally important that we hire great people and imbue them with our passion for coffee.  We do that through a training program whose sophistication and depth are rare in retail. Howard Schultz, Founder and former CEO, Starbucks

Commandment III - Tell employees what you expect of them, then don't micromanage
Be like jockey Willie Shoemaker.  He's the best in the business because he has the lightest touch on the reins.  They say the horse never knows he's there -- unless he's needed.  Harvey Mackay, Founder and CEO, Mackay Envelope

Commandment IV - Lead by example
No psychological weapon is more potent than example.  An executive who seeks to achieve results through the people who work under his direction must himself demonstrate at least as high a standard of performance as he hopes to get from his subordinates . . . When an executive's bad example or his double standards become know, morale and output plummet in his department.  J. Paul Getty, Founder and former President, Getty Oil

Commandment V - Praise good work
Nothing else can quite substitute for a few well-chose, well-times, sincere words of praise.  They're absolutely free -- and worth a fortune.  Sam Walton, Founder and former CEO, Wal-Mart

Commandment VI - Share information
Almost anyone at Dell can explain the fundamental concepts that our business is based on.  that's because we spend a tremendous amount of time communicating what's going on, what we're planning to do, and what everyone needs to do to help us achieve our goals.  Michael Dell, Founder and CEO, Dell Computer

Commandment VII - Listen to employees
The open door policy is very important at HP because it characterizes the management style to which we are dedicated.  It means managers are available, open, and receptive . . . It is a procedure that encourages and, in fact, ensures that the communication flow be upward as well as downward.  David Packard, Co-founder and former CEO, Hewlett-Packard

Commandment VIII - Manage each employee differently
We are all different.  A good manager will recognize those differences and treat each person as an individual.  Mary Kay Ash, Founder and former CEO, Mary Kay Cosmetics

Commandment IX - Confront unproductive behavior
A team will perform well only if peak performance is elicited from the individuals in it.  Andrew Grove, Co-founder and former CEO, Intel

Commandment X - Replace unproductive employees
Removing people will always be the hardest decision a leader faces.  Anyone who 'enjoys doing it' shouldn't be on the payroll, and neither should anyone who 'can't do it.'  Jack Welch, Former CEO, General Electric